Slug control guide for slug casting machines



March 22, 1960 H. o. MOHR 2,929,492

SLUG CONTROL GUIDE FOR SLUG CASTING MACHINES FIG.1

nvmvron HAROLD O. MOHR March 2 2, 1960 H. o. MOHR 2,929,492

SLUG CONTROL GUIDE FOR SLUG CASTING MACHINES Filed July 25} 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 2 4

/' E w E\\ \'/IO 1 INVENTOR.

HAROLD O. MOHR March 22, 1960 H. o. MOHR 2,929,492

SLUG CONTROL GUIDE FOR SLUG CASTING MACHINES Filed July 25. 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 3 H63, F|G.4 56

'IPT

k es

INVENTOR.

HAROLD O.MHR fi/wwn, 1

% YE/MMM ffif'gs March 22, 1960 14.0. MOHR 2,929,492

SLUG CONTROL GUIDE FOR SLUG CASTING MACHINES Filed July 25, 1958 4Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG. 8A FIG. 88 FIG. 8C

INVENTOR. HAROLD O. MOHR BY W awn

United States Patent SLUG CONTROL GUIDE FOR SLUG CASTING MACHINES Harold0. Mohr, Marengo, Ill., assignor to Mohr Lino- Saw Company, Skokie,111., a corporation of Illinois Application July 25, 1958, Serial No.751,022

9 Claims. (Cl. 199-61) The present invention relates to an improved slugcontrol guide for slug casting machines. The invention has its principalfield of utility in connection with slug casting and sawing machinesprovided with a rotary saw for cutting the cast type slugs, but theinvention is not necessarily limited to use with these slug sawingmachines. These slug sawing machines are constructed in the form ofattachment units adapted for mounting on type casting machines, such asthe well-known Linotype and Intertype linecasting machines. This slugsawing attachment unit is known in the trade as the Mohr Saw, and isexemplified in prior Patents 1,264,541, 1,358,972 and 2,563,147.

The present invention relates to an improved upper control guide formaintaining a guiding and controlling engagement with the upper ends ofthe type slugs as they pass between the vise frame and knife block intheir travel from the mold wheel of the linecasting machine to therotary saw of the Mohr slug sawing unit.

Heretofore, these upper control guides have been in the form of one ormore thin sheet metal leaves having anchored attachment at one end tothe upper knife block liner, and having their other or free endsvertically flexible for exerting a resilient downward pressure upon theupper ends of the type slugs as the type slugs pass below the controlguide. These prior leaf spring guides have beensubject to severalobjections.

For example, in attempting to secure completely satisfactory delivery ofslugs in a given range of thickness, these prior leaf springs requirelaborious and painstaking adjust-and-try adjusting operations; and thesehave to be redone whenever the typesetting machine is called upon toproduce slugs having a different range of type sizes and slugthicknesses.

Still another objection arises because the range of flexure and theangles of fiexure of these control guides vary considerably, and after amoderate degree of usage, the metallic composition of these leaf springguides tends to crystallize or fatigue, with resultant cracking orbreakage. Furthermore, these prior leaf spring guides have been somounted that after they have thus become broken or cracked, it is a verylaborious, time consuming job to replace them. Also, these prior leafspring guides do not impose a constant or uniform downward guidingpressure upon the upper ends of the type slugs; but to the contrary, thepressure varies from point to point along the lengths of these priorleaf spring guides. Moreover, these prior leaf spring guides have nothad the requisite efiectiveness for exerting a desired lateral orsidewise pressure upon the ends of type slugs. This sidewise pressure isparticularly desirable for holding type slugs that ice carry characterswhich overhang the solid part of the ype slug pressed laterally againstthe stationary vertical wall of the vise frame, in order that theseslugs will be firmly guided between the vise frame and knife block sothat the ejector blade of the linecasting machine will not slip into anon-pushing position alongside the slug and thus fail to eject the slug.Slugs of this latter type usually have relatively wide type characterswhich overhang the narrower solid slug which forms their base, asexemplified for the make-up of grocery store advertisements, Such slugs,without firm guidance, have a tendency, because of their unbalancedconfiguration, to twist as they are pushed forward through the knifeblock, thereby allowing the ejector blade to slip into a non-pushingposi-, tion alongside the slug, so that the ejector blade is unable tocomplete the ejection of the slug.

All of the foregoing objections to the old metallic leaf spring guideshave been avoided in my improved construction of control guide hereindisclosed. Instead of relying upon a metallic leaf spring constructionfor obtaining resilience, I utilize one of the elastomeric materials,such as neoprene, which has a much greater degree and range ofresiliency, and which also has a longer life. This elastomeric materialis embodied in a horizontal layer, and adhering to the lower sidethereof is a relatively thin metallic slide plate with which the upperends of the type slugs have sliding contact of minimum friction. Thiscushioning layer of elastomeric material exerts. a constant or uniformdownward pressure against the type slug throughout the entire length ofthe guide from end to end thereof. Also, this cushioning layer of elas-.tomeric material is very effective for exerting a lateral or sidewisepressure in a diagonally downward direction against the upper ends ofslugs of a wide range of thicknesses, and particularly those containingoverhanging characters as heretofore described, for the purpose ofholding these slugs pressed laterally against the stationary verticalwallof the vise frame in an upright position preparatory to being cut bythe rotary saw. .Still further, my improved control guide embodies asimplified mount-l ing arrangement, according to which the control guidecan be removed for repair or replacement by the simple removal of areadily accessible mounting screw extend-' ing horizontally through oneend of the mounting plate of the guide.

Other objects, features and advantages of the invention will be moreapparent from the following detail description of one preferredembodiment thereof. In the accompanying drawings illustrating suchembodiment:

Figure l is a vertical fragmentary view showing the relationship of theimproved control guide with respect to the mold wheel and to the rotarysaw, this view corre sponding approximately to a section taken on theplane of the line 1-1 of Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a horizontal sectional view taken approxiq mately on theplane of the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure3 is a front edge view showing the control guide in end elevationin its relationship to the typeslug guide.- way defined between the viseframe and knife block.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragment'aryseetional view showing the upperportion of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a side elevational view of the improved control guide on alarger scale.

Figure 6 is an end elevational view thereof.

l Figure 7 is'an isometric view of a conventional type a slug ofordinary width.

Figure 8 is a similar view of a composite assembly characterized by atype slug having overhanging characters; and

Figures 8A, 8B and 8C are similar views of the different slugs goinginto the make-up of the composite assembly of Figure 8.

anintermittent step by step motion from a molding station (not shown) inthe linecasting machine, where the type slugs, indicated at S, are castagainst selected type characters, to the slug ejecting station, shown inFigures 1 and 2, where the slugs S are ejected for feeding to the slugsawing attachment, indicated generally at 14. The type slugs S areejected in a forward horizontal direction from each casting mold 12 atthe slug ejecting station by an ejector blade 16 which moves forwardlythrough the casting mold 12 from the rear side thereof. From the castingmold 12 the ejected type slug S moves forwardly through a horizontallyextending guide channel 20, the starting end of which is defined betweenthe cutting edges 22 of two laterally spaced side knives 24, 25extending vertically parallel to the vertical position of the ejectedslug at the ejecting station of the mold wheel. These side knives 24,25trim the side surfaces of the type slug ofany sprue edges or excessthickness. The'left hand side knife 24 is located at the inner endofavise 7 frame 26, the right hand vertical face 28 of which defines astationary continuation of the left hand side of the guide channel 20.The right hand side knife 25' is mounted in the inner edge of a knifeblock--30 which has horizontal shifting movement toward and away fromthe 'vise' frame 26 to accommodate different thicknesses of type slugsS. a a I a Interpos'ed between the left hand vertical face 32 of theknife block 30 and the right hand vertical face 28 of vise frame 26is aspring plat e 34 which is yieldingly pressed to -the left to hold thetype slugs S pressed firmly against the vertical face 28 of the viseframe 26. This spring plate 34 has. mounting on'the knife block 30, and

is yieldingly pressed toward the left by a vertically disposed leafspring 38 which is anchored at its center to the knife blocki30 by ascrew 40, and which has its upper and lower ends' pressingresilientlyagainst the upper and lower portions of the spring plate 34(Figure 4 The outer or front edge of this spring plate 34contin'uesalmost to'the cutting plane of the circular cutting saw 44, at whichpoint the spring plate 34 is formed with a laterally bent flange 46. Itwill thus be seen that the guide channel which begins at the cuttingedges 22 of the side knives 24, continues forwardly between the righthand vertical face 28 of the vise frame 26 and the left hand face 48 ofthe spring plate 34 substantially to the cutting zone of the circularsaw 44, so that the vertically disposed type slug S remains underthe'guiding influence of the guide channel 20 while the type slug isbeing forced entirely through the guide channel 20 by the ejector blade16, the type slug remaining under this,

'4 and its shaft 48 are arranged for vertical sliding adjustment up anddown along the vertical axis of the drive shaft 48. Through theactuation of convenient and quickly operating adjusting mechanism, theoperator of the linecasting machine can raise or lower the circular saw44 to dilferent-vertical levels for cutting off greater or lesseramounts of upper portion of each type slug S, depending upon therequirements of the particular type format. After the slug sawingoperation, the usuable lower portion of the slug is delivered to anassembly platform where the successive slugs are assembled in galleyform or upon a galley stick; while the scrap upper portion of the slugis discharged down a waste chute.

The bottom surface of the guide channel 20 is defined'by a lower liner52 (Figures 1 and 3) which is usually secured to the vertical face ofthe knife block 30. On linecasting machines of Intertype-manufacture,this lower liner 52 is usually constructed as, an integralipart of theknife block itself, rather than as a loose part. The lower ends'of thetype slug's Snengage the top, surface of this lower liner or guidesurface 52 out to approximately the outer end of the guide channel '20,substantially to the point where the type slugs S come into cuttingengagement with the cutting saw 44. If desired, the guide surface ofthis lower liner 52 may have a slight upward slope, or the initial partof this guide'surface may have this upward slope. In the conventionalslug sawing machine as heretofore made, the top horizontal edge of theguide channel 20 has been defined by the aforementioned upper leafspring liner which has been mounted on the underside of a metallicmounting block or mounting body 56. Onlinecasting machines or Intertype?manufacture, this mounting body 56 is constructed as a part of the knifeblock 30; Whereas in linecasting machines of Linotype manuf acture thismounting block 56 has readily detachable guiding influence until theslug sawing operation is started and up until the time that it is almostcompleted.

The spring plate 34 yields resiliently toward the right to is mounted.on a vertical driveshaft 48,.and the saw44 75 tertype or Linotype) andin the conventional slug sawing machine. r 7

Referring now to the improved slug control guide constituting thepresent invention, this guide is designated in its entirety, and hasmounting on the underside of g the aforesaid mounting block56 where itexerts downward resilient pressure against the top edges of the typeslugs S as the slugs are advanced through the guide channel 20 from themold-wheel 10 to the cutting saw 44. This improved control guidecomprisesan upper mounting plate 62, an intermediate layer ofelastomericrmaterial 64, and a lower sliding or presser plate 66.;Theupper mounting plate' 62 has a'right angle leg- 68 bent upwardly at itsfront'end, which has an aperture 70 therein for receiving a mountingscrew 72. The mounting block 56 has a tappedhole 74 in its'front end:for receiving the mounting screw 72. The mounting screw 72 is readilyaccessible from the front end of the slug sawing machine (i.e.', fromthe front end of the guide channel 20), and by the removal of thismounting screw 72" the entire control guide assembly60 can be readily'rea moved for substitution or repair.' In the. mounted position of thecontrol guide the mounting plate 62 is held pressed up against theunderside of the mounting block or body 56, or against the undersideof'anyistationary or in any other suitable manner. The lower slide plate66 has an upwardly curved beginning end 66' which exerts a resilientdownward camming pressure against the top edge of each type slug S as itemerges from the casting mold 12 and enters the guide channel 20,thereby holding the lower edge of the type slug pressed downwardlyagainst the bottom liner 52. The discharge or trailing end of the slidecontact plate 66 extends substantially to the discharge end of the guidechannel 20, in close proximity to the plane of cutting of the circularsaw 44. In addition, the pressure plate 66 is formed with an upwardlyextending side lip 76 along the right hand edge of the presser plate, asviewed in Figures 3- and 4. This longitudinal side lip 76 has at leasttwo functions. It affords a fixed right-hand banking surface and stopfor the presser plate 66, operative to engage the adjacent uppervertical side surface 30 of the knife block 30, as seen in Figure 3.Without this sidelip 76, the plate 66 would have no banking surface tothe right, and might possibly be displaced an excessive distance to theright, sufiicient to shear or tear the neoprene layer 64. Also, slugsbeing ejected through the knife block might otherwise force plate 66 tothe right a sufiicient distance to permit the slugs to be caught betweenthe left-hand edge of plate 66 and the vertical face 28 of thevise-frame 26. The addition of the side lip 76 extends the control orpresser plate 66 upward enough to provide a fixed right-hand stop forthe presser plate, which avoids the above difficulties. The side lip 76also functions to strengthen the control plate 66.

As will be seen from Figures 3 and 4, the left hand edge of the presserplate 66 is disposed in close proximity to the vertical side wall 28 ofthe vise frame 26, so that it is impossible for the upper edge of a typeslug S to become caught between the presser plate and this side wall.The presser plate is made wider than the maximum thickness of type slugS which can be cast in the linecasting machine, whereby the right handedge of'the presser plate 66 overlies the spring plate 34 and theadjacent edge of the knife block 30.

To illustrate the difierence in thicknesses or widths of the type slugspassing under the controlling influence of my improved control guide 60,in Figure 7 I have illustrated a conventional type slug, designated S1,havingan over-all standard thickness established by the line castingmachine; and in Figure 8 I have illustrated a composite type slugassembly, designated S2, characterized' by overhanging type characters.In the conventional slug S1 of Figure 7, the small letters, capitalletters, numerals, etc. do not extend beyond the side edges of the slugbody. In the composite assembly S2 of Figure 8, the main slug S3 (FigureSA) has overhanging type characters S4, which are shown as having anextent of overhang corresponding to the thickness of two standard slugbodies, although this degree of overhang may be made greater or lesser,as desired. These overhanging characters are backed up or supported byunderbuilding or secondary back-up slugs S5, S6, etc., of which theremay be one, two or more, depending upon the extent of overhang of theoverhanging characters S4. These secondary or underbuilding slugs mayhave plain frontedge surfaces, devoid of any type characters thereon, asexemplified by the plain secondary slug S5 of Figure 813. On the otherhand, these secondary slugs may have type characters S7, such as areshown on the secondary slug S6 of Figure 80, which type characters S7are spaced to land between or beyond the overhanging type characters S4,as for completing the context begun by the overhanging characters S4.These overhanging type characters S4- are used frequently in making upgrocery store advertisements and the like.

- Although every slug should be trimmed on both sides to make itparallel, it has never been possible to trim the lower side of a slugcarrying overhanging characters, such as the slugs S3. An operator opensthe knife block 6 30 wide enough to pass the slug S3 with theoverhanging characters S4. And he leaves it open for the solid slugs S5and S6 to be used with the master slug S3 of the set. By doing this, thesolid slugs S5 and S6, as well as the master slug S3, arenot trimmed.Leaving the knife block 30 open in this manner is, of course, frownedupon, yet it has become almost universal actual practice.

Because of its irregular configuration, the odd-shaped slug S3 with theoverhanging characters S4 is much more likely to twist in the knifeblock than the solid slug.

The solid slugs, lacking the side-pressure of the spring plate 34, asintended are also more likely to twist in the knife block.

Once a slug twists along its vertical axis in the knife block, theejector blade 16 slips alongside it, and the slug is not ejected.Oftentimes the operator does not notice this and sends in a second slug,with the result that a slug jam-up in the knife block occurs,necessitating the bothersome job of removing the jam.

My improved slug control guide 66 prevents such jamups on both types ofslug-viz the slugs S3 with overhanging characters, and the solid slugs.By its diagonal down-pressure this control guide 60 presses the slug,

against the vise frame so that it cannot twist and allow the ejectorblade 16 to slip by alongside it.

With regard to this improved slug guiding control, attention is directedto the fact that the uniform thickness and uniform resiliency of heneoprene pad 64 from end to end thereof results in a uniform downwardpressure being exerted by the presser plate 66 against the upper end ofeach type slug S1, S3, S5, S6, etc. throughout the full line of travelof the type slug through the guide channel 20. Still further, thetransverse compressibility of the neoprene pad 64 enables the relativelywide presser plate 66 to cock laterally downwardly in its guidingengagement with each type slug (Figures 3 and 4), thereby bringing theabove described lateral component of pressure to bear diagonally againstthe upper right hand edge of the type slug for holding the type slugpressed laterally against the vertical wall 28 of the vise frame 26. Aspreviously described, this diagonally downward and inward component ofpressure holds each type slug pressed to the left against the face 28 ofthe vise frame 26, so as to prevent the ejector blade 16 from slippingalongside the slug, between the vise frame and slug. Such lateralcomponent of pressure occurs ir respective of the width or thickness ofthe type slug, owing to the relatively wide transverse span of theneoprene pad 64 and presser plate 66. It will be seen from the foregoingthat the elastomeric or neoprene pad 64 establishes a resilientfull-floating mounting for the presser plate 66, which permits universaltilting move ment of this presser plate relatively to the slug guidingchannel 20, i.e. it permits tilting movement of the presser plate 66 inthe fore and aft dimension of the slug guiding channel 20, and it alsopermits tilting movement of the presser plate 66 in the transversedimension of the slug guiding channel 20. The downward and inwardcomponent of pressure of the control guide is especially helpful incontrolling the slugs S3 carrying the overhanging type characters S4shown in Figure 8A. Thus, my improved control guide automaticallyadjusts itself to the guidance of conventional solid sings S1, or slugsS3 with overhanging characters Sd, regardless of the thickness of theconventional slugs or the width of the overhanging characters S4.

Still further, the rubber resilient or neoprene composition of thecushioning pad 64 is not subject to the crystallizing and fatiguingcharacteristic of metals, and hence has a very long life.

I wish it to be understood that while my improved slug control guide 60has its maximum utility in a Linotype, Intertype or other linecastingmachine which is equipped with a Mohr slug cutting saw, neverthelessthis slug control guide can also be used to advantage in such to be thepreferred embodiment of my invention, nevertheless it will be understoodthat such is merely exem-: plary and that numerous modifications andrearrangements' may be made therein without departing from the essenceofthe inventiomt I claim:'

/ 1. In slug sawing apparatus for use in connection with" a linecastingmachine embodying a slug cutting saw and a slug guiding channel forguiding the cast type slugs" from the mold wheel of the linecastingmachine to the slug cutting saw, the combination therewith ofacon trolguide extending along one edge of said slug guid ing channel; andremaining in slug guiding relation to said channel independently of therotation'of'said mold' wheel, said control guide comprising a presserplate adapted to engage one 'end of each type slug, and an elastomericbacking for holding said presser plate resiliently pressed with afloating mounting against the end 7 guide comprising a presser plateadapted to engage the upper end of each type slug, and a neoprene padabove said presser plate for holding said presser plate re- .silientlypressed downwardly with a full-floating mounte ing against the upper endof each type slug as it travels through said guide channel, thefull-floating mounting afforded by said neoprene pad permitting edgewisetilting of said presser plate in a direction transverse ofosaid slugguiding channel. r V

3. In slug sawing apparatus for use in connection with a linecastingmachine embodying a slug guiding channel for guiding the cast type slugsfrom the mold wheel of the linecasting machine, the combinationtherewith of a control guide extending along the upper edge of saidslug-guiding channel, said control guide comprising an upper mountingplate, an intermediate pad of elastomeric material and a lower presserplate, and all remaining in slug guiding position in said channelindependently of rotation of said mold wheel said intermediate pad beingsecured to said upper mounting plate and to said lower presser plate,said intermediate pad of elastomeric material serving to hold saidpresser plate pressed resiliently downwardly against the upper end ofeach type slug as it travels along said guide channel. 7 e

4. In a slug control guide of the class described, for use in connectionwith a linecasting machine embodying a vise frame and a knife blockdefining therebetween a slug guiding channel for guiding the cast typeslugs from the mold wheel of the linecasting machine, the combinationtherewith of a slug control guide independent of said mold wheelextending along the upper edge of said,

slug guiding channel, said slug control guide comprising an uppermounting plate, an intermediate padofelastomeric material and a lowerpresser plate all secured together, said presser plate having anupwardly curved end portion at the entrance end of said'slug guidingchan nel to guide the upper ends of the type slugs under the presserplate, and said intermediate pad of elastomeric material aflording afloating compressible mounting for said lower presser plate permittingtilting movement of said presser plate in a direction extendingtransversely of said slug guiding channel so as to cause said presser 8sure against the'upper ends of the type slugsoas they travel throughsaid slug guiding channel so as:to ;holdw said slugs pressed laterallyagainst said vise frame.

5. In a slug control guide of the class described, for usein, connectionwith a linecasting machine embody-. ing a vise frame and a knife blockdefining therebetween a slug guiding channel for'guiding thecast'type'slugs from 'the moldwheel of the linecasting machine, 1 and aguide support block extending along'theupper'edge of said slug guidingchannel, the combination therewith of a slug control guide independentof said mold, wheel and comprising an upper mounting plate,anointermediate pad of: elastomeric material land a lower presser plate,a mounting'fiange bent upwardly at one end of said mounting plate, and amounting screw passing through said. mounting flange and engaging insaid guide support block, said presser plate having an upwardly curvedendportion atthe entrance end of said slug guiding channel to guide theupper ends of the type slugs under the presser plate, and saidintermediate pad of elastomeric materi l. being secured to said mountingplate and to said presser plate and affording .a full-floating resilientmounting for'said presser plate permitting tilting movement of saidpresser plate in directions extending both transversely and fore and'aftof said slug guiding channel so as to cause said presser plate to exerta diagonally downward and inward pressure against the upper ends of thetype slugs as they pass through said slug guiding channel so as to hold:said slugs pressed laterally against said'vise frame. 1

6. In a slug control guide of the class described, for use in connectionwith a linecasting machine embodying a vise frame and a knife blockdefining therebetween a slug guiding channel for guiding the cast typeslugs' from the mold wheel of the linecasting machine, the combinationtherewith of a slug control guide independent ofsaid mold wheelextending along the upper edge of; said slug guiding channel, said slugcontrol guide comprising an upper mounting plate, an intermediate pad ofelastomeric material, and a lower, presser plate all secured together,'said lower presser plate having a trans-.

verse width wider than the maximum thickness of type slug which can becast in said linecasting machine, said channel so as'to hold the slugspressed laterally against said vise frame, and a side. lip stopextending upwardly from that edge of said presser plate adjacent tosaidknife block and operative to engage said knifetblock for limitingsidewise shifting of said presser plate.

- 7. In slug sawing apparatus for use in connection with alinecas'tingmachine embodying a slug guiding channel.

for guiding the cast type slugs from the mold wheel. of the linecastingmachine, the combination therewith of a control guide extending alongthe upper edge of said slug guiding channel and remaining in positionvin said channel independently of the rotation of said mold wheeL: saidcontrol guide comprising a guide plate adapted-to engage the upper endsof the type slugs, and 'yieldable plate to $85 'E agonally downward andinward presthe upper ends of the type slugs and yieldable meansforholding said guide plate pressed resiliently downwardly against saidtype slugs as they travel through said slug guiding channel.

9. In a slug control guide of the class described for a linecastingmachine embodying a vise frame and a knife block defining therebetween aslug guiding channel for guiding the cast type slugs from the mold wheelof the linecasting machine, the combination therewith of a control guideindependent of said mold wheel extending along the upper edge of theslug guiding channel, said control guide comprising a presser plateadapted to engage guide channel. it

References Qited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS955,681 Plant Apr. 19, 1910 1,193,275 Lieberknecht Aug. 1, 19161,358,972 Mohr Nov. 16, 1920

